News
Charter Oak Health Plan adds 13 community health centers to network
By Governor Rell's office
Aug 29, 2008 - 5:13:26 PM

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that all 13 of the state’s community health centers have agreed to participate in the new Charter Oak Health Plan, resulting in an extensive network of providers across the state.

“The Charter Oak network continues to expand each week as we knew it would,” Governor Rell said. “The addition of these centers means Charter Oak patients will have access to affordable health care in every corner of the state.”

The primary sites of the 13 health centers are:

* Charter Oak Health (Hartford)
* Community Health Center (Middletown)
* Community Health Services (Hartford)
* Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington (Torrington)
* East Hartford Community HealthCare (East Hartford)
* Fair Haven Community Health Center (New Haven)
* Generations Family Health Center (Willimantic)
* Hill Health Corporation (New Haven)
* Norwalk Community Health Center (Norwalk)
* Optimus Healthcare (Bridgeport)
* Southwest Community Health Center (Bridgeport)
* StayWell Health Center (Waterbury)
* United Community & Family Services (Norwich)

The Governor said the community health centers operate more than 100 sites across the state and currently provide affordable health care for nearly 250,000 people. The agreement with the health centers includes services to HUSKY patients enrolled by the three Medicaid managed care providers – Community Health Network, Aetna Better Health and AmeriChoice.

This past year, community health centers served residents from 166 of the state’s 169 towns and cities through over 1 million separate patient visits. Services included primary care, prenatal care, dental services, mental health counseling, immunizations, nutrition counseling, HIV care, family planning, homeless support services, substance abuse counseling and treatment, pharmacy services, lab testing, domestic violence prevention, senior abuse screening, migrant health care, cancer screening, diabetes management, childbirth classes, neonatal home visits, asthma treatment, flu clinics, medical transportation, eye exams and podiatry.

The Governor thanked the Commuity Health Center Association and Mark Masselli, president and CEO of Community Health Center Inc. for their commitment to the program.

“I am gratified the centers have renewed their more than 40 year commitment to provide affordable and accessible health care to all residents of Connecticut,” the Governor said.

In 2006, Governor Rell provided $25.8 million to the community health centers to expand their services and modernize their facilities to make quality health care available to more of Connecticut’s residents. Funding for these facilities was also provided to reduce the costly and inefficient use of the hospital emergency rooms.

“The community health centers applaud the Governor for all her efforts to assure that all Connecticut residents have access to primary and preventive health care. The Charter Oak plan means that many of the patients who struggle to pay for health services now will have coverage.” said Marjorie Berry, President of the Board of Directors of the Community Health Center Association.

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